Sanchez, a 10th Mountain Division Soldier with Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Sar Rowzah, Afghanistan, June 23 when his unit was attacked with an
improvised explosive devise while on mounted patrol.

Sanchez was 28, from Greenfield, California and was an infantryman.

According to a Fort Drum statement Tuesday, Sanchez joined the Army in August 2006; after training he was assigned to Smith Barracks, Germany and Fort Irwin, California.

He arrived at Fort Drum in December 2011. Sanchez deployed to Iraq in April 2008 to May 2009. He
deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2013.

Sanchez's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He also completed the Combat Life Savers and the Warrior Leader courses.